Lynn Kurland has raised the medieval romance genre expertly showcasing the period in One Magic Moment, a novel filled with chivalry, family ties, sacrifice and possibilities in the ongoing story of the de Piaget family.

John de Piaget is the lonely, brooding and chivalrous lord warring with himself over living eight centuries in the future enjoying fast cars, modern conveniences and lurking dangers but unable to escape his 13th century roots. He wears the part of medieval knight to a tee with chivalry elevated to a new level when he meets the very independent, lady of the castle, Tess Alexander. Alexander is a medieval scholar who has been deeded the Castle of Sedgwick where (with her sister Peaches) she runs special events and delivers lectures at the university.

Readers are able to jump into this next installment of Kurland’s de Piaget saga, following the story of Tess and John thanks to a seamless transition by Kurland with a peppering of backstory, narrative and dialogue to bring the reader about.

In One Magic Moment, Tess’s younger sister Pippa is safely ensconced in 1241 with her husband Montgomery de Piaget while his brother John has unwittingly met his sister-in-law 800 years in the future.

From the start, it’s evident John is fighting to keep his past at bay while Tess digs deeper to find out her ‘knight’ is in fact whom she suspects – a man from her sister’s 13th century family! The two duel verbally during the ensuing weeks as he takes a heavy hand to protect her and his heart from unseen dangers that begin springing up, but readers will surely feel the tug between the two as each struggles with information about the other. A simmering attachment and chemistry unfold between them as each wonders about the other: she as to how he came to be in this century and adapt and he, as she juggles a career managing the castle, running a business and lecturing.

Suspension of disbelief in time travel is skillfully accomplished because it seems so natural - we know the characters intimately because we’re engaged in their internal dialogue and respective customs of their ‘time.’ Through a time gate ignited by John’s knighting sword, the two trip back eight centuries and are assaulted by the medieval environs and John’s large family which provide a delightful romp and perspective into his world. Kurland’s clever idea of time gates situated in certain locales throughout England allow the reader relief knowing the characters have a way back to each other and their respective time periods.

But while in 1241, we feel the clash of steel on steel during a sword fight, the damp cold of England blowing through castle walls and the inevitable tug of family as John readjusts to 13th century England. We experience Tess’s pull from business woman and lecturer thrust back in time to a period she has mastered in study and the longing for John to choose what era is best for him despite the consequences.

Kurland has cleverly seamed together a roster of likeable and formidable characters from the 21st century and the de Piaget line across time that intersects to affect one another to safeguard the heritage of family. But an enemy threatens Tess and that stability, and John’s sense of duty and honor take over to protect her as they are forced back to 1241 to find and confront the source. 

While there, Tess is reunited with her beloved sister Pippa, along with the impressive, extended de Piaget clan. To be expected, Tess alternates between being fascinated as a scholar of the period absorbing details with her struggle to stay or go.  

As the mystery unfolds as to the source of the threat that has indeed followed the couple across time, a final battle ensures the danger ends and reveals a surprising turn of events that explains the future with Tess as holder of the Sedgwick Castle and the title of Countess.

One of the most fun parts of this read is coming to really know the enormous de Piaget clan – made up several siblings, their spouses and children –because Kurland masterfully intertwines personalities with backstories, these secondary characters become people we truly hope to see again. And, it nicely ties up the many individuals - some of whom have traveled from the future – populating the novel in both centuries.

While there is no overt love scene in One Magic Moment, the smoldering tension and unfolding love between John and Tess allows readers to believe that Camelot does exist filled with knights and their ladies and the rest is left to enviable imagination.

~ Helena